Tips for Gardening with Dogs

Who doesn’t love to get outside in the springtime and play in the dirt? Your dog probably does, so if you want to plant a garden this spring, you’ll need to plan carefully in order to keep your pet safe and out of trouble. Here are some tips for gardening with dogs so you’ll both enjoy the benefits of gardening.

Plant edibles

Before you ever dig your first hole in the ground, take the time to research what is and isn’t safe for your dog to ingest. New plants look like chew toys to curious dogs, so make sure what you’re sticking in the ground is pet-friendly.

Many vegetables are safe for dogs to eat, though you probably don’t want your pet to have a nibble until they’re grown and ready to pick. Anything in the onion family (onions, garlic, chives, leeks, etc.) are a no-no for dogs, but leafy greens like lettuce are just fine for your pup to eat.

Skip the pesticides

Pesticides can be toxic to dogs as well as bugs and they may not be all that great for humans, either. Look for natural ways to keep pests away, such as using diatomaceous earth and spraying the plants with a mildly soapy water in the evening.

Careful with flowers

Some flowering plants (and some without flowers) can be toxic to your pet. Don’t let your dog eat daffodils, azaleas, hyacinths, or lilies--they are highly toxic to dogs. Other flowers are not toxic, so feel free to plant plenty of roses, petunias, primrose, and snapdragons. If you aren’t sure about the toxicity of plant, check with your vet.

Digging dogs? No problem

If your dogs can’t resist the urge to dig everything back up after you plant it, consider planting in containers instead. These can be moved to give your dogs plenty of space to run and play, they brought back out to take advantage of the sunlight. Be sure to keep your gardening tools put away and never leave things like seed packets out for your dog to get hold of.